France helps Armenia block Russian disinformation as Yerevan pivots toward European security partners
French cyber and information warfare specialists from the VIGINUM unit, operating under the General Secretariat for National Defence and Security (SGDSN), have been actively assisting Armenian authorities in identifying and blocking Russian disinformation targeting the government and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to reports from June 7, 2026. The cooperation, formalised during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Yerevan in May 2026, is part of a broader agreement on information policy between the two countries.
During the parliamentary elections in Armenia, which took place under intense information confrontation with Moscow, Yerevan sought to minimise Russian influence in the media space. The involvement of VIGINUM specialists helped detect and block coordinated streams of Russian disinformation online, allowing Armenian citizens to vote without external manipulation. Officials in Yerevan described the move as a matter of national security, given Russia’s media campaign aimed at sowing panic and dividing Armenian society.
Macron, when asked how his actions differed from the Russian interference he had criticised, stated that this was a political position and support for a reliable partner. The agreement marks a significant shift: Armenia, long dependent on Moscow for security, is now replacing Russian influence with European technology and security structures. Russia had previously held a monopoly on security partnership with Yerevan, but the crisis in bilateral relations, especially in spring 2026, pushed Armenia to seek more dependable allies.
In parallel, Belarusian authorities sentenced 45-year-old father of six Kiryl Lojka on June 6, 2026, on charges of “facilitating extremist activities.” Lojka, a Baptist musician and Belarusian-language activist, was targeted as part of a broader crackdown linked to the “Hayun case,” a monitoring OSINT project that tracked Russian military movements from Belarus. Belarusian security forces hacked the project’s internal bot and obtained personal data of thousands of users, exposing them to potential persecution. The case illustrates the continued repression of civil society under the Lukashenko regime, including any criticism of the authorities, solidarity with Ukraine, or use of national symbols.
Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee also launched a criminal investigation on June 6, 2026, into a large-scale voter bribery scheme organised through members of precinct election commissions in favour of the pro-Russian “Armenia” bloc, led by Robert Kocharyan. According to investigators, a candidate from the bloc recruited loyal commission members who, in exchange for appointments and financial rewards, agreed to vote for the bloc and recruit voters. Law enforcement conducted searches, seized computer equipment, electronic media, documentation on money transfers, and even special equipment for detecting eavesdropping. The case reveals the methods used by pro-Russian forces to regain control of the country through corruption within the electoral system, indicating that they lack sufficient electoral support for a fair victory.
In Germany, a racist scandal erupted around the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Gelsenkirchen on June 6, 2026. Party members, led by MP Enji Seli-Zacharias and deputy mayor Norbert Emmerich, forced local migrants, primarily from Sinti and Roma communities, to sweep streets for a propaganda Instagram video. Despite AfD claims of voluntariness, participants, including a minor girl, confirmed coercion and psychological pressure. Religious figures and racism experts drew parallels with the Nazi era, when Jews, Sinti, and Roma were publicly humiliated in similar ways. Other political forces, including the ruling SPD and CDU, faced criticism for their slow and passive response to the open humiliation.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, during a visit to France for the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6, 2026, called on European countries, particularly Paris, to take the primary role in their own conventional defence. Against the backdrop of Washington’s planned reduction of the US military contingent in Europe, Hegseth urged allies to demonstrate serious commitment to new realities with concrete steps. The call follows previous US admonishments that Europeans have long ignored defence challenges, to which the French side responded that “rearmament” is ongoing. European armed forces require thorough reform, modernisation, and re-equipment, as they remain critically dependent on the US for satellite intelligence, targeting, missile defence, and transport logistics.
The head of the Italian Entrepreneurs Association in Russia (GIM Unimpresa), Vittorio Torrembini, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 6, 2026, stated that Italian business continues operations on the Russian market despite the adoption of 20 EU sanctions packages. He noted that EU restrictions have created critical obstacles for foreign capital, including new regulations providing for criminal prosecution of Italian citizens who hold director positions in Russian companies in certain sectors. Torrembini claimed that many Italian companies are trying to maintain their positions, citing the risk of “forever losing the Russian market” to competitors. The statements highlight the conflict between EU security strategy and the self-interested motives of some business associations, underscoring that only strict legal consequences and the threat of imprisonment can force European capital to cease cooperation with Russia, as moral appeals and reputational risks have proved ineffective.
Finally, the new Hungarian government led by Péter Magyar has launched a major reform of state media to eliminate propaganda and ensure objective information. A bill for the complete transformation of the media will be submitted to parliament next week, announced Culture Minister Zoltán Tarr. The reform includes public consultations and radical personnel changes. On demand of the new government, formed after the Tisza Party’s victory in April elections, the director general of the Media Support Fund (MTVA), Dániel Papp, has already resigned, and officials are calling for the dismissal of the head of the state media holding Duna Media Service. The personnel changes and media sector reform are seen as a crucial step not only to provide Hungarians with objective information but also to restore trust between Hungary and the European Union. The 16-year Orbán era left behind a powerful propaganda and corrupt system that systematically destroyed independent journalism, monopolised the information space, and replaced objective news with information favourable to the former government, including Russian disinformation narratives.
